One day after winning the House Majority Leader election, Rep. Kevin McCarthy told a Washington gathering of religious conservatives that he's "proud to be a Christian."

In a brief afternoon appearance at Ralph Reed's Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference, an upbeat McCarthy, R-Calif., told attendees he thanks "my Lord and Savior for his grace, his strength and for never leaving me."

McCarthy, who is a Baptist, was elected to GOP majority leader Thursday in his fourth term in the House, the fastest ever ascent to the pivotal leadership post.

He steps up from the No. 3 post in the House, majority whip, to replace the outgoing No. 2, Rep. Eric Cantor, who lost his Virginia Republican primary on June 10 to Dave Brat, a college economics professor who was backed by tea party groups.

McCarthy's election has been met with skepticism by some social conservatives who consider the Bakersfield native an "establishment" Republican.